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Do you think Autism has a negative image?

White_Dragon

One thought keeps cropping up and would like to get your views on this topic. Do you think Autism has a negative image in a general sense? Until recently I knew very little about it and from the little I did know I thought of TV programmes like the A word. More recently, now I am a bit more attuned to things, I've noticed on the media/TV that autism is portrayed as a mental health condition. Patience seems a more positive view and a bit of an exception. I watched unforgotten recently on ITV and there was a lad on that they clearly had problems but all they talked about was his autism. Then I was watching the news earlier on and there was a young girl who sounded like she took her own life but had previously been arrested as suspected far right terrorist. Again they mentioned she was autistic.

Maybe I am just seeing more negative cases?

Would be interested to understand what you think?

It seems like a real barrier to me in terms of being open about being autistic when its potentially perceived in negative way? 

Parents

  • I think many people do have a negative image of of autism, but then I think they do of all sorts of disabilities, mental and physical. I think things like Patience help, but then there's so many violently negative images of it too, like that perosn who stabbed those poor girls in Stockport. It's very easy to just seen screaming headlines and when something so shocking happens to look for something to blame it on and autism's an easy target. No one wants to get into the nitty gritty mess of failing mental health services, because the person obviously had a lot more going on than autism.

    Another thing that dosen't help is that it seems to be part of the culture wars, with people like Kemi Badenoch saying there's to many of us being diagnosed, especially worries about the number of adults being diagnosed. I wonder if it's some kind of diagnosis envy with NT's running around feeling left out, or worrying if they migh "catch" it, or a more general fear that they're not the majority that they like to think they are and that society may have to fundamentally change to accept the new reality that there's many neurologies and that we're all valid and equal. I think there might also be an unexpressed fear that we maybe cleverer than them!

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  • I think many people do have a negative image of of autism, but then I think they do of all sorts of disabilities, mental and physical. I think things like Patience help, but then there's so many violently negative images of it too, like that perosn who stabbed those poor girls in Stockport. It's very easy to just seen screaming headlines and when something so shocking happens to look for something to blame it on and autism's an easy target. No one wants to get into the nitty gritty mess of failing mental health services, because the person obviously had a lot more going on than autism.

    Another thing that dosen't help is that it seems to be part of the culture wars, with people like Kemi Badenoch saying there's to many of us being diagnosed, especially worries about the number of adults being diagnosed. I wonder if it's some kind of diagnosis envy with NT's running around feeling left out, or worrying if they migh "catch" it, or a more general fear that they're not the majority that they like to think they are and that society may have to fundamentally change to accept the new reality that there's many neurologies and that we're all valid and equal. I think there might also be an unexpressed fear that we maybe cleverer than them!

Children
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